Seattle Blog and Recent Site Additions
July 10, 2012
The Woodland Park Zoo
750 North 50th Street
| INDEX | |
| Explore the Zoo | |
| Overview | |
| Northern Trail | |
| Penguins | |
| Carousel | |
| Woodland Park Rose Garden | |
| Visitor Information | |
| Map | |
| Public Transportation | |
| Hours | |
| Phone Number | |
| Zoo Web Site | |
| Admission | |
| Save Money with Seattle CityPASS |
OVERVIEW
The Woodland Park Zoo is one of Seattle's finest attractions. It attracts over 1,100,000 visitors annually including 350,000 school kids. This world-class zoo has much to offer visitors. The Zoo has over 1,100 animals representing 300 different species displayed in a variety of exhibits that are designed to keep the animals happy in natural settings. Major emphases of the Zoo are on education and conservation and they certainly do an outstanding job in these areas.
The Humbolt penguin habitat
The Zoo is a lovely destination. Dating from its founding in 1899, It is nestled into 90 beautifully landscaped acres. This place is a treat just to walk around and savor the grand landscaping. In addition, the landscape design in the various animal exhibits is exceptional.
The jaguar habitat
Tropical habitat
The grand design of the Zoo is that it features several zones from around the world. Each zone features architecture, landscaping, and animals from that particular zone. The major zones in the Zoo are:
- African savanna--zebra, hippo, giraffe, lion, patas monkey, tiger, wild dog, meerkat, komodo dragon, gorilla, fruit bat
- Australasia--emu, wallaby
- Humbolt penguins
- Temperate forest--waterfowl, red panda, flamingo
- Tropical asia--elephant, orangutan, siamang
- Tropical rain forest--lemur, jaguar, colubus monkey
- Northern trail--mountain goat, brown bear, arctic fox, snowy owl, wolf, Roosevelt elk
- Raptors
The Woodland Park Zoo has been awarded the Best Exhibit three times by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The awards were for the Tropical Rain Forest (opened 1992), the Northern Trail (opened 1994) and the African Savannah (opened 1980). Only the Bronx Zoo has won more Best Exhibit awards.
A small inhabitant of the Zoo
A scene from the outstanding elephant habitat
A western lowland gorilla
NORTHERN TRAIL
One of the brown bears
My favorite section of the Zoo is the Northern Trail. It was designed to present the wildlife of the Alaskan tundra and taiga regions. The Trail features an outstanding exhibit that is home to two massive brown bears (grizzlies). Watching these gorgeous creatures with their handsome fur prowling their habitat is a real treat. One Zoo highlight is seeing a bear frolicking in the small pond. Visitors can watch the bear's watery antics from the glass-enclosed viewing shelter.
The brown bear tundra exhibit
This bear knows how to relax!
The mountain goat exhibit
Another handsome animal in the Northern Trail exhibit is the mountain goat. The goat exhibit features terrain constructed to emulate the steep rocky slopes where the goats normally roam in the high mountains.
HUMBOLT PENGUINS
A penguin performance
Adjacent to the West entrance is a grand exhibit of Humbolt penguins. These penguins are the rock stars of the Zoo. They put on a never-ending show of constant movement in the water and on land. Kids and adults really enjoy watching the penguins frolic around in the water and on land.
CAROUSEL
For lovers of historic carousels, the Zoo has one of the best. Enclosed in a special building, the carousel has been lovingly-restored and it is a museum quality piece that you can ride. This ride was built in 1918 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The carousel is 50 feet in diameter and has 48 hand-carved horses and two gorgeous chariots. For two dollars, you can have a delightful spin on this historic amusement ride.
Please click here to go to our Photo Gallery page for the Carousel.
WOODLAND PARK ROSE GARDEN
Another feature of the Woodland Park Zoo is the Woodland Park Rose Garden. This beautiful garden is located next to the South parking lot of the Zoo. In the summer, this Garden is one of Seattle's most beautiful places. Please click here to see our separate web page for the Rose Garden.
MAP
View Woodland Park Zoo in a larger map
ENTRANCES
There are two entrances for the Zoo.
South entrance 750 North 50th Street
West entrance 5500 Phinney Avenue North
The West entrance is the closest entrance to the main Zoo Store and the Rain Forest Food Pavilion.
Denizens of the Zoo Store
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
From downtown Seattle at 3rd and Pine, you can ride King County bus number 5 to get to the Zoo's West Entrance.
Please click here to see the timetable for bus number 5.
PHONE NUMBER
The phone number for the Zoo is (206) 548-2500
HOURS
May 1 through September 30 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
October 1 through April 30 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Zoo is open daily except for Christmas Day.
A peacock putting on a show
WEB SITE
Please click here to go to the Zoo's web site to see detailed information about the various exhibits and the animals exhibited including downloadable maps.
ADMISSION
| HIGH SEASON | LOW SEASON | |
| May 1 thur Sept 30 | Oct 1 thru Ap 30 | |
| Adult | $ 17.75 | $ 11.75 |
| Senior (65+) | $ 15.75 | $ 9.75 |
| Child (3-12) | $ 11.50 | $ 8.50 |
SAVE MONEY WITH SEATTLE CITYPASS
The Woodland Park Zoo is an attraction covered by the Seattle CityPASS. Please click on the image below to find out about the money-saving CityPASS.
Click here to go to the Photo Gallery for the Zoo's Carousel
Click here to go to Seattle Attractions--General